"YOU MEMORISED THE whole place, babe?" Penelope tightened her grip on Joaquin's arm. She was vexed on the sight of fallen timbers, scattered twigs that may or may not choose to harm her mate's eyes. Penelope was sure as her inner beta wolf that those plants are alive and ready to fire several pokes on her babe's body. She guided him onto the clear path. "It's a pity that there's a storm last night. The river won't be suitable for a light dip, you know. I'm just suggesting."

"The water will be cold enough to freeze me. It's okay for you to go back in the house. It's not advisable for you to go out when you still have that injury." Joaquin turned to look at her. His nose slightly brushed on her cheeks. Penelope suddenly forgot how to breath properly. "I've done this before. The storm last night won't hinder me. In fact, I've been waiting for that."


"You love the cold that much?" She moved the injured hand with a slight frown. "I can do a partial shift now, babe. The arm is no problem. Why are you waiting for the storm then?"

"Because the fresh water from the mountain is much colder. I don't love the cold. It's that I needed it."

'You're a strange wolf.' Penelope struggled to keep the opinions to herself. 'Wolves loves the heat. Is this a discreet way of telling me that you're frigid?'


"Babe, I have a question to ask." She stretched the casted arm. Sharp claws flashed in her eyes as she did a partial shift. A loud crack made Joaquin gasp. "I hope you won't get offended by this."

"Did that hurt?" He pursed his lips when Penelope didn't answer. He clicked his tongue. "You don't want the porridge?"


"Babe, it's not that. Don't bring the poor porridge here. That food is divine, okay?"

"What is your question?"

"Are you impotent or something?" she inquired. "Babe, I won't judge. I'm just doing my best to prepare myself in anything." Penelope had a feeling that this might be the reason why he's cold with her.

Joaquin tripped over a bump of soil. Penelope darted straight to his side and cooed, "Babe, please don't bleed. I haven't even kissed any parts of you yet. It would be a shame. Of course, I mean, if you will allow me."

"Stop—" Joaquin leaped to his feet. He stuttered, "Please stop calling me babe. I'm not a pig."

Penelope was relieved to see him fine. She shrugged. "Anything to make you happy, dear."

He made an exasperated noise. "I'm not a dear too."

"You are my dear."

CARRYING A BUNDLE of clothes in his left hand, Joaquin walked the track to the river with familiarity. Although the storm made the path indistinguishable, the scent trail was easy to follow.

When Joaquin's sense of sight perished, his other senses became enhanced with the help of the training he recieved from his father. In his unseeing state, he could still track a person or a thing from kilometers away. This came handy whenever Lance is not around and he wants to walk or take a short bath in the river.

The only thing, or specifically a person, that made him slowly advance instead of walking briskly is Penelope.

Joaquin thinks of it as peculiar and downright shameful but still enjoys the woman's flirty attitude towards him. He didn't like imagining the woman talking like this with another men.

Just thinking about that prospect itches his palm to do a half shift.

"Hang on. We'll be there soon," he consoled when he heard her heavy sigh. "Are you tired already?"

"That's not why I'm sighing here. In all honesty, I'm appreciating the view," she said with a boastful tone.

Joaquin raised his brow. "Was there anything amazing around? It's just trees and endless trees. What amazing view?"

Penelope blew him a loud kiss. "You! Muah!"

He then realized that it was possible to strangle a person without even touching them. Penelope had that power over him. The woman can render him speechless with just a word and one frivolous action.

'How cheap are you, Joaquin?' he chastised himself as he walk. He made sure that his back was straight as an iron. 'A woman can buy you with just one pick up line.'

"Keep up," he said lightly, "watch your feet."

"Huh! So it turns out, you really care for me, ah?"

Joaquin was chagrined to tell her that he needs to ask his father's thoughts first before committing in anything. That was because he doesn't want to be careless.

If there's a way he can have Penelope without having her cornered with his problems in the future, then only his father possibly know about it. The man was just like him. Even though he hated the idea of fated mates, Joaquin didn't have anyone he can ask aside from the old man.

There is no harm on trying it.

Until then, Penelope must not know about his shifter side. How would she react after seeing his monster half is something he doesn't want to hear.

That's why holding himself back from calling her the same endearments and giving in to her wants is something he cannot afford to give at the moment. He only wanted the best for both of them.

Ripples of water soon entered his ears. He reached for Penelope. The woman accepted his lightly calloused hand. Her hand in turn feels hard but steady. "Because of the storm, there might be large chunks of wood from the mountain. If you're thinking of soaking for a while, choose a secure place, okay?"

"Nah. I'll stay where you go. We'll keep the clothes on so we can stop our hands from unwanted chances, yeah? Great plan."

'It's not unwanted. In fact, I would really like it. Now is just not the right time.' Joaquin knew that there is no use to uttering such words. The woman might think he's just making excuses.

"Then… shall we?"

"We shall, babe."

As soon as the cold mountain water splashed on Joaquin's skin, he felt calm and almost serene. The harsh beating of his heart became peaceful once again. Still, he had Penelope's hand clasped with his.

'What does your wolf look like, my beta?' Joaquin closed his eyes. 'How was your childhood? I'd like to know.'

Only if she won't ask something about him in turn.

"Am I being unfair?" The question came out of his mouth before he could think about it. Silence met his mindless query. Joaquin knew that the woman's answer is a freezing 'yes'.

"Babe— Babe, wow. You're right. It's so cold here."

Joaquin lowered his head. "I'm sorry."

"And as for your question?" Penelope mumbled through her rattling teeth,"Let's sail at your own pace, babe. I was ready for this ever since I knew I had one fated love. You have baggage at your back and we've only just met. I understand you."

He inhaled a sharp intake of air. "Then, what if—"

"But let me tell you that I'm not that patient." She sighed. "I have to make sure that my trust, my feelings and my future is not being taken for granted. I'll wait for you. I will. But tell me until when do I need to. So there would be something that I'll look forward to than an empty 'soon'."

'What if the answer is still no? Are you going to risk it?' With the woman's answer, then it's a 'no'.

Joaquin applauded Penelope's courage in telling her wants and conditions. This only shows that she's a woman with opinions and principles. She wouldn't take a train down to hell alone. She needs someone so she wouldn't be alone in misery.

"I…" 'I am starting to like you. So much.' He nodded his head. "I will cook pasta when we get home. Do you want something along with it?"

"You being open to me. Is that okay?"

He snorted. "There you go again."

"I just like it when you frown." Penelope flicked some water on his face. "So sexy."

Joaquin swallowed and allowed himself to say, "You too. Your voice. It tickles the ears."

"Damn, he's learning." She tsk-ed.

He chuckled. "You're a great teacher."

A twig snapped on the left side. Alertness cleared his muddle-headed condition. Joaquin had his back against the stream. He swatted his hands to where the sound came from, sending fine needles made of ice for the eavesdropping person casually leaning on a sturdy tree. "Who's there?"

"I came here to check on you, like how a dutiful nanny should do." Lance's ungrateful voice was huge and deafening. He launched on an unstoppable rage. "I was tasked to take care of your business then visit you one or two times a week if I'm feeling like a hero. I went to the cabin only to have your father's protective barrier ejecting me for ten kilometers away. Do you know the amount of dread that I felt when I realized you let in another person when the array could only accommodate two shifter souls without even informing me?"

Joaquin tilted his head to the side. He pulled Penelope to hide her on his back. "I forgot to tell you, Lance."

It was indeed his bad. He was too preoccupied with Penelope's matter that he wished to erase Lance's existence in this world. The tosser was still a menace to him.

Penelope didn't like the man's tone. It was obvious in the strength of her grip on his arms.

Lance gave him a sarcastic laugh. "You forgot what? That damn barrier tore my Amani suit apart, Joaquin. It tore my precious clothes! An Amani coat! Mind that!"

"I can buy you two of it. I can afford that."

"This is a fucking limited edition, my dear barbarian cousin!" He sighed dramatically. "I need an exorbitant amount of money as a compensation."

Joaquin's nose soured with his materialistic words. "Yes. Okay. I'll write a check."

"Don't you think that I have forgotten that! I need you to console me with boxes of high quality and chic shoes!"

"About what now?" He doesn't like this cousin or aide that his father sent him. Joaquin hasn't seen his face since that one time but he's sure he looks a lot like money right now. "You'll get all my stuff?"

Lance's voice became unnaturally stiff. "It's the payment for not telling me first that you have found your own destined mate."

This helper really had a keen eye for details.